A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
As part of the Eucharistic Revival process, Bishop Dewane has advised us to attend training on becoming Eucharistic Missionaries. It has five-parts: starting May 18, the weekly online program begins. It will conclude with a commissioning prayer on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Corpus Christi), on Sunday, June 22.
As a starting point of this process, the readings this weekend talk about love, hope and the transformation that took place among the first Christians who were forced into difficult and torturous situations. The first and second readings, focus on the hope of a new life.
Jesus, in His farewell speech, before instituting the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, talks about his new commandment of love. What is new about this new commandment?
It is not about giving love to someone and expecting it to reflect back (reciprocity) like in any ordinary love situation. It is about giving love to someone and keep on giving it.
One of the stories in the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul, is about a man who came out of his office one Christmas morning and found a little boy looking with great admiration at the man’s new car. The little boy asked, “Does this car belong to you?” And the man said, “Yes. In fact, my brother gave it to me for Christmas. I just gotten it.” With that, the little boy’s eyes widened. He said, “You mean to say that somebody gave it to you? And you didn’t have to pay anything for it?” And the man said, “That’s right. My brother gave it to me as a gift.” With that the little boy let out a long sigh and said, “Boy, I would really like…” And the man fully expected the boy to say, “I would like to have a brother like that, who would give me such a beautiful car,” but instead, the man was amazed when the little boy said, “Boy, I would really like to be that kind of brother. I wish I could give that kind of car to my little brother.”
Love one another as I have loved you! A powerful love expressed in the Holy Eucharist by always giving, giving and giving. Let us prepare ourselves in the footsteps of the Holy Eucharist to express our love unconditionally.
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
Reading 1: Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27
Reading 2: Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35
